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East Chop Town Column: August 22

I recently met with Ann Smith, the executive director of Featherstone. She spent most of the interview bragging about East Choppers’ involvement with and support of Featherstone. The picture associated with this column was taken at a recent fundraising gala and includes some of our many volunteers.

Patsy McCornack, Judy Cunniffe, Kate Hancock, John Goldthwait and Caryl Dearing are board members. Karen Jones, Linda Schlageter, Mary Woodcock and Anne Gallagher are members of the advisory council. Anne is a former board member and has managed the Tuesday morning life drawing class for 18 years and is one of the first recipients of Featherstone’s annual inspiration award.

Caryl Dearing teaches a well-attended knitting class during the winter months. Michaele Christian’s work is currently being featured in the print making show. All of Michaele’s work was created at Featherstone. The lighting that displays her paintings was designed by Fred Hancock. Fred also contributes his beautifully crafted wood carvings to Featherstone shows.

As most of you know, something is always going on at Featherstone. In addition to art shows and classes all day, every day, there are Musical Mondays, a Flea and Fine Arts Market on Tuesdays and jazz concerts on Thursdays. Ann Smith has one part-time employee to help her bring all these activities together, and as she kept pointing out, all of these East Chop volunteers. In addition to those mentioned above, Ann singled out Joan Potter, Tom and Joyce Dresser, Sis Carroll, and Sue Collinson. “I know I have forgotten someone Rick, but I think you get the point. I couldn’t do this work without all these good people.”

If you would like to join the Featherstone family, a good introduction might be the Potter’s Bowl festival this Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. Attendees pay $30 for a ceramic bowl created by a Featherstone artist. They then get to use it for a delicious meal that features soup and dessert. Proceeds from the festival go to enhance the potter’s studio.

While we’re on the subject of art, Piret Meisner is having a show of her work at Book Den East from August 16 through Labor Day. Piret is a graduate of the Estonian Academy of Art. Her work has been exhibited in Parnu and Tallin, Estonia, and now here. Her paintings are both fascinating and versatile, coming in various forms which include engravings, block printing, graphite and pastels. The Book Den East is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. You won’t want to miss this unique exhibit.

As I announced at the recent East Chop Association meeting, Jane Coe and I are updating A Guide to East Chop Families. For those of you who are in the book, we will contact you this year regarding new information you may want to add to your family story. If you are not in the book, we want you there. Call me, and I can help you get started in providing the information we need. Our target date for completing the project is the fall of 2015. Please don’t procrastinate, however. The sooner we get your information the easier our job will be.